Miss. State routs Louisiana Tech

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - Louisiana Tech found out how dominant Mississippi State can be without center Mario Austin. <br> <br> Michael Ignerski had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the No. 24 Bulldogs to a 78-38 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday. <br> <br> Mississippi State won its fifth straight without Austin, who is sidelined while the NCAA determines his eligibility for the season. A decision is expected Tuesday. <br> <br> Ontario Harper added 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulldogs (5-1), who held Louisiana Tech (1-2) scoreless for nearly 11 minutes. <br> <br> Antonio Meeking led Tech with 11 points and six rebounds. <br> <br> ``As a coach, you have to be very pleased with that effort,&#39;&#39; Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury said. ``Louisiana Tech is a very good basketball team. I thought our team, defensively, came out and absolutely took away all their strengths.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Mississippi State opened the second half with a 20-0 run, punctuated by a jumper from Harper with 18:44 remaining. <br> <br> Louisiana Tech shot only 23 percent from the field, including 4-for-26 (15.4 percent) in the second half. Tech missed 11 straight shots to start the second half. <br> <br> ``I think Mississippi State has a chance to be really great, especially if they get Austin back along with what they already have going,&#39;&#39; Louisiana Tech coach Keith Richard said. ``They are a Top 10 team and they had a lot to do with our problems today.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Mississippi shot less than 39 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free throw line, but outrebounded Louisiana Tech 56-29. <br> <br> Louisiana Tech led only once, at 3-2. <br> <br> Mississippi State then went on a 12-1 run and Louisiana Tech never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. <br> <br> ``Team defense was there all night,&#39;&#39; Mississippi State guard Timmy Bowers said. ``We executed on offense and played with a lot of intensity over the whole game. We knew they would be the best team we faced all year. So we took that to heart and jumped on them early.&#39;&#39;